Techniques for Safely Shipping Tape Drives While Mounted Inside a Frame of an Automated Tape Library

ABSTRACT

A system of shipping tape drives while they are mounted to a frame uses shipment brackets to retain the drives within the frame in retracted positions during shipment. The brackets allow the drives to be shipped inside the frame. The brackets hold the drives in the retracted position within the frame by clipping into the drives and the shelves above the drives. Tabs on each bracket snap into a drive such that the drive cannot move with respect to the bracket or the shelf. The drive is pushed into position until the bracket is fully engaged with the shelf above the drive and the tabs have prevented the drive from further insertion. Because the bracket is engaged, the drive no longer can move in or out of the shelf.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/464,326 (Atty. Docket No. TUC920030049US1), filed on Jun.18, 2003, and entitled, “Method and Apparatus for Safely Shipping TapeDrives While Mounted Inside a Frame of an Automated Tape Library,” whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates in general to an improved shippingapparatus and method and, in particular, to an improved method andapparatus for safely shipping tape drives while they are located insidea frame of an automated tape library.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Protecting and safely handling sensitive electronic components duringshipment is a challenge for electronics goods manufacturers. Shippingelectronic components that are required to be mounted inside theirrespective end product carriers or storage devices can be especiallydifficult, particularly when the components are required to protrude outof their carriers under normal operating conditions. As shown in FIG. 1,one example of this type of problem is encountered with tape drives 11that are mounted in an automated tape library frame 13 for interactionwith a robotic picker (not shown).

There are typically two ways to address the safe handling and shipmentof tape drives and their frames. One solution is to ship the drives andthe frame separately. Although this first solution has the advantage ofbeing better able to protect the electronics, it has severaldisadvantages as well. A drawback to this first solution is that whenthe parts are shipped separately they can get misplaced, lost, or notarrive at their destination at the same time. Another drawback is that aspecial shipping container must be made in order to ship the drives.Also, the installation time at the destination is increased as thedrives must be put into the frame instead of the drives already beinglocated in the frame. Furthermore, if the end user wishes to move theentire frame after the initial installation, all of the shippingcontainers must be present in order to do this safely. Thus, shippingthe drives separately from the frame has many disadvantages which addsignificant cost to the product.

The other alternative solution for tape drives and their frame is toship the drives in their normal operating position where they protrudeout of the frame while packed inside a large protective cover for thedrives. This solution also has several disadvantages, including thatsuch a protective cover is expensive to build. In addition, the bulk ofthe weight of the drives is located outside the frame. When the frame ismoved during shipping, it can tip over due to the center of gravity notbeing located in the center of the frame. Thus, both prior art solutionsstill lack the ability to ship the product safely and cost effectively.An improved method and apparatus for facilitating safe and costeffective shipment of tape drives in a frame is needed and would bedesirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of a system, apparatus, and method of safely shippingdrives, such as tape drives, while they are mounted to the frame of anautomated tape library utilizes shipment brackets to retain the driveswithin the frame in retracted positions during shipment. The shipmentbrackets allow the drives to be shipped inside the frame when the normaloperating position of the drives is to protrude outside of the frame.This design provides a very simple installation and removal solutionwithout adding the extra cost of separate shipping containers for thedrives. Also, by moving the drives into the frame, the majority of theweight is now inside the frame so that the frame will not tip over aseasily as prior art designs and thereby avoid a safety hazard duringshipment. Additionally, the shipment brackets are relatively inexpensiveand can be stored within the frame so that the frame can be shippedrepeatedly without having to relocate the original packaging.

The function of the shipment bracket is to securely hold and restrainone drive in the frame in a retracted or shipment position. Thisposition differs from the normal operating position of the drive whereinit protrudes from the frame. Prior to the present invention, there wasno viable method of securely fastening drives within the frame inretracted positions that allowed them to be easily removed.

The shipment bracket holds the drive in the retracted position withinthe frame by clipping or snapping into the drive itself and also theframe in which the drive is located. Two small vertical tabs on theoutside legs of the spring clip into two holes in the drive such thatthe drive cannot move with respect to the spring in the direction in orout of its shelf. When the spring is clipped on top of the drive, thedrive and spring assembly are inserted into the shelf. When the drive isinserted into the shelf, the middle section of the spring is ramped downas the drive slides into position. The drive continues to be pushed intoposition until the middle section of the spring is fully engaged withthe shelf above the drive and the vertical tabs in the middle sectionhave prevented the drive from further insertion. Because the middlesection of the spring is engaged, the drive no longer can move in or outof the shelf. Also in this position, the middle section of the spring iscompressed and applies a downward force to the top of the drive. Thecompression force securely maintains the position of the drive duringany shock or vibration during shipping. In one embodiment, the springmay be disengaged by a lever (such as a screwdriver) which is used topry down the middle section of the spring to disengage and then slidethe drive out of the shelf. Once disengaged, the spring can be removedand stored within the frame.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, in view of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attainedand can be understood in more detail, more particular description of theinvention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to theembodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, whichdrawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only an embodiment of the invention andtherefore are not to be considered limiting of its scope as theinvention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a conventional frame for an automatedtape library having a plurality of tape drives shown in theirconventional operating positions.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a frame for anautomated tape library having a plurality of tape drives shown inretracted positions and is constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a shipment bracket formounting and retaining a tape drive in a frame and is constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the shipment bracket of FIG. 3 shownmounted to a tape drive and is constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the shipment bracket and tape driveof FIG. 4 shown mounted in a retracted position in a frame and isconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, one embodiment of a system for reconfiguring anapparatus comprises a system 21 for increasing the safe handling of theapparatus during shipping. In the embodiment shown, the apparatus is aframe 23 for an automated tape library (not shown). The automated tapelibrary has a robotic picker that picks components, such as tapecartridges, from and places components into tape drives within the frame23. The frame 23 has a front 25, a rear 27, and a plurality of shelves29 (twenty are shown in FIG. 2) located inside the frame 23. Each of theshelves 29 has a shelf axis 31 (FIG. 5) that extends generally inforward and reverse directions (indicated by arrows 33, 35,respectively).

The system 21 also includes a plurality of components or drives 41(twenty are shown in FIG. 2), such as data tape drives for recordinginformation. In one version, each of the drives 41 is mountable in anyone of the shelves 29 of the frame 23. Each of drives 41 also has aplurality of apertures 43 (FIG. 4) formed therein. In the embodimentshown, at least some of the apertures 43 are formed in a top surface 45of the drives 41.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another component of system 21 is a pluralityof retention devices or shipping brackets 51 (one shown). In oneembodiment, the drives 41 and shipping brackets 51 are provided in equalnumbers. Each of the shipping brackets 51 has a shelf portion 53 that isreleasably attachable to any one of the shelves 29, and a drive portion55 that is releasably attachable to any one of the drives 41. In theembodiment shown, drive portion 55 is a generally flat, U-shaped memberwith a base portion 56, and a downward-depending tab 57 on the outercorner of the end of each of its arms 59. As shown in FIG. 4, tabs 57engage respective ones of the apertures 43 in the drive 41 when driveportion 55 of shipping bracket 51 is mounted on the top surface 45thereof.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the shelf portion 53 is a generally flatmember that is integrally formed with drive portion 55 at base portion56 and extends in the same general direction as arms 59. However, shelfportion 53 is not co-planar with drive portion 55; rather, shelf portion53 is oriented at an acute angle (approximately 5 to 30 degrees) withrespect to drive portion 55 above the planar surface defined by driveportion 55. Because of this configuration, shelf portion 53 acts as aspring and is spring biased upward from drive portion 55 to its inclinedposition. Shelf portion 53 includes two pair of generallyupward-depending tabs 61, 63 which are spaced apart from each otheralong the longitudinal length of shelf portion 53. Each pair of tabs 61,63 is longitudinally aligned, respectively, but they are formed asmirror-images. Tabs 61 are somewhat triangular, and tabs 63 aregenerally rectangular. In addition, tabs 61 are spaced slightly fartherapart from each other and slightly shorter than tabs 63.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the drives 41 are positionable in a retractedor shipping position by mounting the shipping brackets 51 to the drives41 and inserting the drives 41 from the rear 27 of the frame 23 into theshelves 29 until the shelf portions 53 of the shipping brackets 51interlock with the shelves 29 to restrict movement of the drives 41located therein. Each of the shelf portions 53 of the shipping brackets51 acts as a spring that interlocks with upper features of a respectiveone of the shelves 29 without a tool by merely inserting the drives 41into the shelves 29. However, in one embodiment, a lever or tool 71(such as a screwdriver) may be used to pry the shelf portion 53 downwardto disengage the tabs 61, 63 from the shelf 29 before the drive 41 canbe removed from the frame 23. Alternatively, drive 41 may be removedwithout tools by pressing down on the shelf portion 53.

The shelf portions 53 of the shipping brackets 51 apply a compressionforce to the drives 41 that, in one embodiment, is approximately equalto three times the weight of one of the drives 41 to maintain the drives41 in the shipping position during shock and vibration encountered whilebeing shipped. In one embodiment, the drives 41 are located completelyinside the frame 23 when in the shipping position. When the drives 41are in the shipping position, a majority of the weight of the drives 41is located over the center of the frame 23 such that the tilt stabilityof the frame 23 is enhanced.

From the shipping position of FIGS. 2 and 5, the drives 41 arerepositionable to an extended or normal operating position (see FIG. 1)by partially removing the drives 41 from the rear 27 of the frame 23,removing the shipping brackets 51 from the drives 41, and re-insertingthe drives 41 from the rear 27 of the frame 23 into the shelves 29beyond the shipping position toward the front 25 of the frame 23. Whenthe drives 41 are in the normal operating position, the shippingbrackets 51 may be stored inside the frame 23 (such as a shelf or in acompartment 73) for subsequent use in retaining the drives 41 in theshipping position at a later time. In the normal operating position, atleast portions (such as front portions) of each of the drives 41protrude beyond the front 25 of the frame 23 when the drives 41 are inthe normal operating position.

In operation, the present invention also comprises a method ofincreasing the safe handling of an apparatus, such as system 21, duringshipping. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a frame 23(FIG. 2) having a front 25, a rear 27, shelves 29 inside the frame 23,drives 41, and shipping brackets 51 (FIG. 3). A shipping bracket 51 ismounted to each of the drives 41 to form assemblies (FIG. 4). Theassemblies are inserted into the shelves 29 at the rear 27 of the frame23 until the shipping brackets 51 interlock with the shelves 29 in ashipping position (FIG. 2) such that the drives 41 are locatedcompletely inside the frame 23 between the front 25 and the rear 27 ofthe frame 23 and movement of the drives 41 is restricted by the shippingbrackets 51. The frame 23 is shipped with the drives 41 in the shippingposition. When ready to be put in an operational position, theassemblies are partially removed from the rear 27 of the frame 23 andthe shipping brackets 51 are removed from the drives 41. The drives 41are then fully inserted into the shelves 29 from the rear 27 of theframe 23 beyond the shipping position to a normal operating positionsuch that at least portions of the drives 41 extend out of the frame 23beyond the front 25 of the frame 23.

Alternatively, the method further comprises the step of storing theshipping brackets 51 inside the frame 23 for subsequent use in retainingthe drives 41 in the shipping position at a future date. The method mayalso comprise locating a majority of the weight of the drives 41 insidethe frame 23 at or near the center of gravity of the frame 23 in orderto enhance the tilt stability of the frame 23. The method may alsocomprise biasing a spring 53 on each of the shipping brackets 51 intointerlocking engagement with a respective one of the shelves 29 bymerely inserting the drives 41 into the shelves 29, and using a tool 71to disengage the springs 53 from the shelves 29 before the drives 41 canbe removed from the frame 23. Finally, the method may comprise applyinga compression force to the drives 41 to maintain the drives 41 in theshipping position during the shock and vibration of shipping.

The present invention has several advantages including the ability tosafely ship tape drives while they are mounted to the frame of anautomated tape library. The present invention utilizes a single shipmentbracket to retain each drive within the frame in retracted positionsduring shipment. The shipment brackets allow the drives to be shippedinside the frame when the normal operating position of the drives is toprotrude outside of the frame. This design provides a very simpleinstallation and removal solution without adding the extra cost ofseparate shipping containers for the drives. Also, by moving the drivesinto the frame, the majority of the weight is now inside the frame sothat the frame will not tip over as easily as prior art designs andthereby avoids a safety hazard during shipment. Additionally, theshipment brackets are relatively inexpensive and can be stored withinthe frame so that the frame can be shipped repeatedly without having torelocate the original packaging.

The function of the shipment bracket is to securely hold and restrainone drive in the frame in a retracted or shipment position. Thisposition differs from the normal operating position of the drive whereinit protrudes from the frame. Prior to the present invention, there wasno viable method of securely fastening drives within the frame inretracted positions that allowed them to be easily removed. The shipmentbracket holds the drive in the retracted position within the frame bysnapping into the drive itself and also to the shelves on which thedrive sits.

When the spring is clipped on top of the drive, it can be inserted intothe drive shelf. When the drive is inserted into the shelf, the middlesection of the spring is ramped down as the drive slides into position.The drive continues to be pushed into position until the middle sectionof the spring is fully engaged with the shelf above the drive and thevertical tabs in the middle section have prevented the drive fromfurther insertion. Because the middle section of the spring is engaged,the drive no longer can move in or out of the shelf. Also in thisposition, the middle section of the spring is compressed and applies adownward force to the top of the drive. This force can be set by thedesign of the spring and, in this embodiment, the force is equal toapproximately three times the weight of the drive, but the compressionforce may vary based on the design of the spring. The compression forceallows the position of the drive to be maintained during any shock orvibration during shipping. To disengage the spring, a lever may be usedto pry down the middle section of the spring to disengage and thenpartially slide the drive out of the shelf. Once disengaged, the springcan be removed and stored within the frame.

While the invention has been shown or described in only some of itsforms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is notso limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

1. A system for reconfiguring an apparatus, comprising: a frame having a plurality of shelves; a plurality of components, each of the components being mounted in one of the shelves of the frame; a plurality of retention devices, each having a shelf portion that is releasably attachable to one of the shelves, and a component portion that is releasably attachable to one of the components; the components having a retracted position in respective ones of the shelves inside the frame and being restricted from movement when respective ones of the retention devices engage both the components and said respective ones of the shelves, and an extended position such that at least portions of the components protrude from said respective ones of the shelves outside the frame.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the components are in the extended position, the retention devices are stored in the frame for subsequent use in retaining the components in the retracted position.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the retracted position is a shipping position for the components, and the extended position is a normal operating position for the components.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted position, a majority of a weight of the components is located inside the frame such that a location of a center of gravity of the frame provides enhanced stability for the frame.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of components has a plurality of apertures, and each of the component portions of the retention devices comprises a plurality of tabs for engaging the apertures in respective ones of the components.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the retention devices are first attached to the components before the components are installed in the retracted position, and the retention devices are removed from the components before the components move to the extended position.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the retention devices acts as a spring that engages a respective one of the shelves without a tool by merely inserting the components into the shelves, and wherein a tool is used to disengage the springs from the shelves.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the retention devices have stops for engaging the shelves and limiting an insertion depth of the components into the shelves.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted position, the retention devices apply a compression force to the components to reduce motion of the components due to shock and vibration.
 10. A system for increasing the safe handling an apparatus during shipping, comprising: a frame having a front, a rear, and a plurality of shelves located inside the frame; a plurality of drives, each of the drives being mountable in any one of the shelves of the frame; a plurality of shipping brackets, each having a shelf portion that is releasably attachable to any one of the shelves, and a drive portion that is releasably attachable to any one of the drives; the drives being positionable in a shipping position by mounting the shipping brackets to the drives and inserting the drives from the rear of the frame into the shelves until the shipping brackets interlock with the shelves to restrict movement of the drives, and the drives being positionable in a normal operating position by partially removing the drives from the rear of the frame, removing the shipping brackets from the drives, and re-inserting the drives from the rear of the frame into the shelves beyond the shipping position.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein, when the drives are in the normal operating position, the shipping brackets are stored inside the frame for subsequent use in retaining the drives in the shipping position.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the drives are located completely inside the frame when in the shipping position, and at least portions of each of the drives protrude beyond the front of the frame when the drives are in the normal operating position.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein, in the shipping position, a majority of a weight of the drives is inside the frame such that a stability of the frame is enhanced.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein each of drives has a plurality of apertures, and each of the drive portions of the shipping brackets comprises a plurality of tabs for engaging respective ones of the apertures in the drives.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the shelf portions of the shipping brackets comprises a spring that interlocks with a respective one of the shelves without a tool by merely inserting the drives into the shelves, and wherein a tool is used to disengage the springs from the shelves before the drives can be removed from the frame.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein the shelf portions of the shipping brackets apply a compression force to the drives to maintain the drives in the shipping position during shock and vibration.
 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the shipping brackets are mounted on top of respective ones of the drives and the shipping brackets engage upper features of respective ones of the shelves. 